Downloading and using Kodi on its own is fine for those who just want to organize their personal media. While the included Kodi repository features some pretty good add-ons, you’re not going to find anything to change the look and feel of Kodi, and certainly not anything to stream content.

You’ll need to access an unofficial repository in order to do that, and during this article, we’re going look at some of the best Kodi repositories available. These online databases allow you to install the best unofficial add-ons for Kodi, including all the content you’d want to stream from your box.

It is critical, however, that you always tunnel through a VPN when using Kodi. A VPN will keep your IP hidden so others can’t track it. Piracy is illegal and while Kodi is not, most unofficial add-ons dive into this legal gray area. While we don’t recommend doing anything illegal, we do recommend you take the proper precautions to protect yourself by checking out our article on the best VPN for Kodi.

There are other benefits, too. Using a VPN with Kodi will allow you to access geoblocked content like USTVNow which can only be used in certain regions. VPNs are cheap, easy to install and, at the very least, give an extra layer of protection.

Many popular Kodi repositories have gone offline, including the Fusion repo which would otherwise be at the top of this list. However, there are still plenty of great repositories to choose from. Let’s take a look at our five favorites.

The Official Kodi Repo

While the Kodi repo is limited in what it offers compared to others, there’s still a lot to love inside. Even when accessing other repositories, it’s a good idea to glance over what’s offered here as many official add-ons will enhance the experience of using unofficial streaming add-ons like Covenant.

One of the most notable is Keymap Editor. This simple utility add-on provides an easy to use GUI for mapping controls for input devices. This lets you configure remotes or keyboard shortcuts without the headache of programming them yourself.

You’ll also have access to Trakt, Open Subtitles, PlayOn Browser and LazyTV, all of which help organize and track the content you have. If you want more suggestions, check out our favorite add-ons from this repo.

The major advantage of the official Kodi repository is that it will stay online for as long as the platform is alive. Many of the add-ons inside are tools that enhance the experience when coupled with other, unofficial add-ons.

Noobs and Nerds

If you’ve just set up Kodi, then this repository is an excellent place to begin your journey. Noobs and Nerds is a lightweight repo with tons of add-ons inside. It’s ideal for families, with many items geared towards children. There also aren’t any awkward porn add-ons inside, so it’s a good choice if you want to avoid that conversation.

The repo includes one of the best Covenant alternatives, Elysium. This add-on lets you stream movies and TV shows from just about any era, with most streams offered in HD or above. If you’re lucky, you may even find a stream for movies still in theaters.

Noobs and Nerds is a repository that everyone who uses Kodi should download. The add-ons inside are very diverse, with little to no fluff. The team behind it is constantly updating it as well, so it’s unlikely that it’s dying any time soon.

You can find the Noobs and Nerds repo here.

Ares Wizard

Ares Wizard is less about add-ons and more about different Kodi builds. That said, there is a massive list of add-ons in this repo, although they’re almost all entirely focused around video.

Setting up Kodi the way you like it can be, modestly put, a chore. A pre-built configuration can ease the process, giving you a full layout, tons of add-ons and shortcuts to access all of them.

Ares Wizard is the place to get all of those builds, and it’s easy to install new ones to try them out. While the numbers often change as new builds are added or old ones retired, you can expect about 300 to 400 available at any given time.

However, there are downsides to installing a build. Your box will become bloated with many add-ons; these often include adult content as well, so bear that in mind if you have children with access to your box.

You can find Ares Wizard here.

Mucky Duck

This repo has a lot of add-ons included, but only one of note. DuckPool is a rebranded version of the popular add-on iStream, which, like Covenant and Elysium, grants access to a massive library of movies and TV shows to stream.

If other streaming add-ons don’t have what you’re looking for, it’s likely that DuckPool will. The library spans everything from cartoons to movies still in theaters, with over 40-+ sources to pull from. Sources can be disabled individually as well if you want to speed up load time.

Other than DuckPool, Mucky Duck is a lot of dead weight. While there are many add-ons inside, almost all of them are abandoned. However, for the time being, DuckPool alone is worth the download.

You can find Mucky Duck here.

Kodil

Rounding out the list is Kodil. This repository, like Mucky Duck, has a lot of abandoned add-ons inside. If you’re just starting out, this isn’t the place to go. However, the repository also features many difficult to find add-ons that may be of interest to hardcore Kodi users.

Unlike many other repositories, Kodil doesn’t feature any first-party add-ons. Instead, it’s a bit of a one-stop shop for just about every Kodi add-on you can imagine. Currently, it offers around 900.

While digging through the list can be a hassle, you will find add-ons inside that aren’t included in any other repositories, including Gurzil, a fork of the popular Exodus add-on, and a new version of Phoenix called Bennu.

You can find the Kodil repo here.

Installing a Kodi Repo

There are two methods to install a repository. You can either download the .zip file and install it, or you can access it via a URL within Kodi. While the former is a more reliable option, both work just fine.

Installing from a Computer

To install from a .zip file saved on your computer, you’ll need to first download the file that contains the repository. Simply click one of the links above and download the appropriate file from the index.

Once there, open Kodi up and take the following steps:

• Click “add-ons”
• Go to the “add-on browser” (open box icon)
• Click “install from zip”
• Navigate and select the saved .zip file

After that, just wait a few moments for the add-on enabled notification to appear. Once installed, you can access the content by using the “install from repository” option in the same menu.

Installing from URL

If you’re using a Kodi box or simply don’t want to clog up your drive, you can install a repo by adding the URL as a source in Kodi. While this can fail depending on if the repo is temporarily down, the process generally works.

First, you must allow Kodi to install add-ons from unknown sources. To do so, follow these steps:

• Click the “settings icon” that looks like a cog
• Go to “system settings”
• Hover your cursor over “add-ons”
• Tick the “unknown sources” slider to the right

After doing so, head back to the Kodi home screen and you can install via a URL:

• Click the “settings icon”
• Go to “file manager”
• Select “add source” from the left column
• Click “<none>”
• Enter the “URL” for the repository you want
• Give it a name

Once you complete that process, follow the steps you would take if installing from a PC, but instead choose the source you created in the previous step. As with before, wait for the add-on enabled notification and browse the repo in the same way.

Conclusion

Repositories are always being changed, with old ones coming down and new ones springing to life. However, these five are options that have been up for a while and provided value throughout that lifespan.

As mentioned before, it is essential that you use a VPN while using Kodi. The small fee is like insurance for your privacy, so make sure you take a look at our best VPN overview for suggestions if you haven’t already.

If you want more Kodi content, make sure to check out our Kodi archive as well. We have everything from installation guides to “best of” lists, including how to install Kodi on Roku and dealing with Kodi buffering issues.

What Kodi repositories do you use? Let us know in the comments below and, as always, thanks for reading.